Device for holding removable leaves.



No. 700,867. Patented May 27, I902.

B. G. WHITLOCK.

DEV ICE FOB HOLDING REMOVABLE LEAVES.

(Application filed Jan. 24, 1902.)

(No Model.)

I u MIH F m g 75 law MM.

H O fi/VEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH G. \VHITL OCK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING REMOVABLE LEAVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,867, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed January 24, 1902. Serial No. 91,075. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH G. WHITLOCK, of the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, in the State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Device or Apparatus for Holding or Binding Together Bookwise Loose or Removable Leaves or Sheets of Paper, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description or specification, reference being had to the annexed sheet,

of drawings and to the letters marked thereon.

My said invention, which relates to a device or apparatus to be used for holding to gether or binding in book form any required number of loose or removable sheets of paper-such as invoices, bills, accounts, re ceipts, or correspondence, or any of the other miscellaneous papers or documents which are veniently held together bookwise-that is to say, after the manner of sheets of paper constituting the leaves of a book-that the sheets of paper so held together may be turned over and upon each other in succession, while the manner of holding together such sheets of paper and the device for so holding together such sheets of paper are such that any one or more of such sheets of paper can be with facility and rapidity removed from or taken out of the holder constituting my invention whenever so required for use apart from or placed elsewhere from the rest of the papers held together in or by the device constituting my present invention.

Upon the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the device constituting my present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a part plan of the device constituting my present invention, showing the rings whereon the separate or loose sheets of paper are held in the device, the rings in this figure being shown open for the purpose of placing loose or separate sheets of paper in the device or for removing such separate or loose sheets of paper to any required or desired number therefrom. Fig. 4c is a transverse section of the device constituting my invention on the line b b, Fig. 1, showing it shut up as a book and holding or containing the several loose or separate sheets of paper therein as held upon the retaining-rings in the form of a book. Fig. 5 is a detail showing a ring closed and opened. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the binding edge of a loose sheet of paper.

In the figures of drawings it will be seen that the device constituting my present invention consists of a semicircular back portion, (marked A,) which may be formed either of a stiff, strong, or elastic metal, or it may be formed of ebonite or vulcanite or celluloid or of leather or papier-mach or of any sufficiently strongand flexible textile fabric. This back'portion A of the device is constructed with twoinwardly-folding flat edges, (marked B 13,) having holes therein through which the opening and closing rings 0 C pass in the same manner as the corresponding rings in my aforesaid prior application for Letters Patent. The flat portions B B of the device are connected together by toggle-jointed levers D and E, respectively, and the lever D has a stud F projecting vertically downward from it, as shown at Figs. 1, 2, and 4, which is always contained within the groove of the guideroller G, so'that when the toggle-jointed leversD and E are in the position shown at Fig. 1 then the rings C0 are closed, and when it is desired to open the rings 0 G into the position shown at Fig. 3 then the rod and handle I are pulled horizontally outward from the position shown inFig. 1 to the position shown .in Fig. 3, inwhich latter position the toggle-jointed levers D and E are in a straight line across the back of the device, as shown at Fig. 3, and the terminals of the rings C G (marked 6 and f, respectively) are forced open, so as to enable any papers to be removed from the rings 0 O or to allow any papers to be placed upon the rings 0 C in a bookwise manner.

Upon the rod and handle I there are moun ted two stop-rings J and J, which when the when the stop-ring J at the inner end of the rod and handle I, in being-pulled outward until it meets the other bearing K, prevents the toggle-joints D and E from being pulled beyond the straight position. (Shown at Fig.

3.) As shown in transverse section, Fig. 2,

the rod I is mounted with two toothed or spur pinions L, one only of which is seen in said figure, which gears into the internallyout teeth of the rings 0 C, as in my aforesaid application for Letters Patent, and as the rod and handle I I are rotated in either a right or left hand direction so the toothed wheels or pinions L correspondingly rotate the rings 0 C until the requisite position of the opening ends or terminals 6 andf of the rings 0 C is attained for either removing or placing sheets of paper in anydefinite or required position upon the rings 0 C.

In order to insure a more thoroughly effectual bookwise character of the device constituting my invention, I mount two book-like covers M and N, one at either side of the device, as shown in the drawings. These covers M and N are so shaped that they maybe easily attached to the curved back of the device either by flexible jointing material, after the manner of the binding of a book, or by hinges whenever such may be necessary, and

each cover M and N is formed with a flat piece 0 and P, respectively, each of which is or can be folded down upon the portions M and N and inclose, as shown in the drawings, a space between the outer cover M and N and the inwardly-folded flap 0 and P. Into such spaces, inclosed and formed by the folding over of the flat portions 0 and P, pencils, erasers, and a small quantity of stationery, a knife, or other useful devices are or may be easily placed when the device constituting my invention is used portably and for being carried about in traveling, while in order to secure the device safely closed in the bookwise form (shown at Fig. 4) a clasp or strap or equivalent fastening may be used to unite the outer edges of the covers M and N in any v convenient manner.

As it sometimes happens that when a notstiffly-flexible material is used for the curved back portion of the device marked A A such curved portion does not readily spring into the closed position of the rings, (shown at Figs. 1, 2, and 4,) and for the purpose of insuring that the curved back of the device will close to its normal position when after being opened the toggle-joints are returned, in the manner hereinbefore describedand shown upon the annexed drawings, to the position shown at Fig.1 of the said drawings I introduce one or. more transverse spiral springs Q Q, which unite to connect together the two sidesof the curved back A A, as shown, and the tension of these springs Q Q always returns the sides of the curved back to the normal position required.

For the purpose of insuring or as much as possible preventing the lower edges of the leaves from being in contact when turned over on each other I cut the lower edge of the sheets of paper scalloped or curved and preferably at the same time that the holes corresponding to the rotatably-movable opening and closing rings 0 C are punched therein, leaving the part or parts wherein the holes X are punched as shown in the diagram, Fig. 6.

Having now described the nature of my said invention and the best system, mode, or manner I am at present acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I desire to observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the invention to be secured to me by Letters Patent, and wherein it is to be under stoodthat either one or more than two such rotatably-movable opening and closing rings as the rings 0 C may be used, is as follows: 1. The device for holding or binding together after the form or manner of a book, loose or removable sheets of paper, said de= vice consisting of an expansible back portion with flat top portions wherein one or more rings each having internal teeth are carried joints for enabling the rings to be opened and closed and a shaft or bar with'a handle capa ble of having both a sliding and rotating movement imparted to it, said shaft having stops thereon and pinions operating in internal teeth or toothed recesses in-each of the one or more opening and closing rings, the said device also containing toggle-jointed levers connected pivotally to the top portions of the back, said toggle-jointed levers being operated by the aforesaid movable bar and handle, one of said toggle-jointed levers having a stud engaging with a grooved roller on said shaft or bar, for opening and closing said .rings, the grooved roller also the springs connecting the upper parts of the back, all operatingin the manner and for the purposes substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. The combination consisting of the flexible back, the fiat top portions of said back the one or more internally-toothed jointed opening and closing rotatably-monnted rings held in said back, the sliding and rotatable bar and handle, the stops on said bar, the pinions on said bar, the grooved roller on said bar, the toggle-jointed levers and stud operated by said bar and grooved roller, the bearings for said bar and toothed pinions, the covers or sides of the device and the flexible outer portions of said covers, also the spiral springs, all operating together in the manner and for the purposes substantially as hereinbefore de scribed.

3. The combination consisting of the flexible back, one or more jointed opening and closing rotatably-mounted toothed rings held in said back, the sliding and rotatable bar and 5 handle, the stops on said bar, the pinions on said bar, the grooved roller on said bar, the toggle-jointed levers and stud operated by said bar and grooved roller, the bearings for said bar and pinions, the opening and closing 1o rotatably-mounted rings, the covers or sides of the device and the flexible outer portions 

